Bumming Herring: Nyum Nyum Nyum

The seemingly all-encompassing nature of the internet has had an unquestionably huge effect on the world of comedy. Anecdotes and retrospectives of the comedy of yesteryear suggest that acts would often keep the same material for many years, refining it maybe, but continuing to perform what was essentially the same set. The prodigious popularity of video streaming sites now goes a long way to ensure, or perhaps force, comedians to have a far greater turnover of material. Though the vast majority of viewers understand that a comedian's set is a pre-prepared batch of material, and will be performed many times, it is perhaps a bad thing for a comedian to have multiple 3-8 minute clips of them on the internet performing the same material. This is something that is not always possible for comedians to monitor, as a deft mobile recording from the audience is out of the comedians hands.

The comedian Rhod Gilbert discussed one effect of video streaming websites whilst on his radio show, explaining how, when appearing on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow he had to decide whether to include certain material, luggage-based, in his set. The reason behind this decision was that the material already existed on YouTube, and has received a colossal number of views (it eventually went in, as a BBC1 audience was felt to be different enough from a YouTube audience).

Although the internet's effect can be seen to be troublesome, it has also offered many new avenues and opportunities for comedy to explore. I will take as my case study one Richard Herring, as he is an act who has a huge presence on the internet, amassing quite a splendid array of electronic notches to his internet-based bow. My familiarity with his works are, without doubt, down to this vast internet presence. I first became aware of Mr Herring several years ago, after being linked to one of his videos from a clip of a Stewart Lee appearance on Edinburgh and Beyond. My lack of awareness was soon quashed as a huge back-catalogue of his work is available online (and importantly - for free). The ready availability of a blog, scripts (both commissioned and not), plays, TV and radio shows ensured, and ensures, that for anyone who has an interest in his work, there is much there for the taking. The helpfulness of this possibility might only extend to more established acts however, as regardless of how much material you are able to link to, a newer act simply will not have the depth of material to offer.

The internet also offers more real-time comedy opportunities which, again, are able to be highlighted using Richard Herring as an example. Utilizing the sites and services of facebook, twitter and whichever new incarnations begin doing the rounds all help 'maintain a presence', and for the most part continued visibility is likely a good thing. The interactivity of these sites also help harbor closer relationships between acts and fans, which is, again, a good thing (but could lead to stalkerish behaviour but that's unlikely to happen ever I love you Richard). The appearance of the podcast as a format is another effect of further internet developments, and the efforts of Mr Herrin (and Mr Collings of course) still stand out in the bountiful podcast field as they are strictly 'for podcast' creations. (Audio) Podcasts are, by and large, excerpts from existing radio shows, and while these are still enjoyable, there is an added joy to be had from hearing a podcast recorded for podcast's sake. The most exemplary of these, in my opinion, include Collings and Herrin (surprise!), The Perfect Ten and Peacock and Gamble. The huge added effort put in by Adam & Joe to add new material to their podcast goes a long way to making it a splendid creature.

With the advent of iPlayer, alongside the monster that is YouTube, so much TV footage is now readily available legitimately, or at least without complaint, for free on the internet. As someone who often experiences the wonders of the BBC almost purely through the medium of the internet, I began wondering whether or not television and radio as we know them are on their way to becoming obsolete. There is certainly no need for a separate TV or radio systems when my computer could provide the exact same services (though I did once enter a strange place where I was using the internet browser of a PS3 to load up the iPlayer in order to listen to the radio - THIS IS THE FUTURE). One of the factors which suggest that the current radio and TV systems may prevail is the amount of money it takes to fund a show, which isn't there for people wanting to create things for the internet (though 'webisodes' are perhaps attempting to buck this trend), hence how the aforementioned formats are generally available for free. It is, yet again, Richard Herring who is leading the charge in this arena, with plans to create a sketch show in the autumn, which will be available for free on the internet, where the costs will be managed by having a live, paying, audience. Previous comments made by the man himself suggest that the monetary side of this would be in the same area as having a radio show commissioned by an organisation, with the added bonus of having full control over the content. No need for, perhaps, over-sensitive censorship, also the initial need for a commission is leap-frogged, though a sort of commissioning process would occur democratically, in terms of the need for a paying audience. Whether or not this system would work for other formats is even more uncertain.

I personally wouldn't be hugely upset to see TV and radio succomb to the same fate as VHS and his pals, as I am attached by the soul to the internet regardless. The internet has made it possible to see, hear and read the work of comedians with utmost ease (I am uncertain about forays into scratch-and-sniff internet) and also enabled cottage industries to safeguard and provide shows that would have been lost (the destined-to-be-legendary gofasterstripe).

Hopefully the advances of the internet will ensure that it becomes more and more the case that comedians will not have to be mainstream and bland/safe in order to see their ideas become a reality. And when that point is reached I hope caps will be doffed and heads will be dipped to the internet-content pioneer Richard Herring. Only time will decide whether he is the most groundbreaking comedian of this internet age, or a fucking idiot.